Sen. Baldacci legislation to support child care workers receives unanimous committee support
AUGUSTA — On March 14, 2025, Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, introduced LD 561, “An Act to Ensure Subsidy Reimbursements for Certain Child Care Providers.” to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The hearing was immediately followed by a work session, where the bill received unanimous approval from the committee.
“We are facing a child care crisis. We need to take action in order to keep our providers paid and ensure they have the resources they need,” said Sen. Baldacci. “Enrollment based subsidies can make a positive impact in Maine by stabilizing the child care sector and enabling child care centers to remain open and staffed by qualified individuals. These folks are essential for the lives of countless Maine families who rely on child care. We must do our part to ensure they can continue to provide the great work they do for our children.
LD 561 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse child care providers for subsidies based on enrollment rather than attendance. Typically, enrollment numbers are higher than attendance, because children can be absent for a variety of reasons, such as illness or vacation. The switch from attendance to enrollment based subsidy payments would help stabilize the child care sector after its collapse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Similar legislation in the 131st Legislature, LD 2199, received unanimous support in the House and Senate, but did not receive funding and died at the conclusion of the 131st Legislature.
In 2024, the federal Department of Health and Human Services under the Biden administration passed a final rule that would require providers be reimbursed on enrollment rather than attendance. Sen. Baldacci’s bill, LD 561, would enshrine this requirement in state law.
LD 561 awaits further votes in the Senate and House.
